Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Quality Speaking Louder than Words!
Forget the hype, forget the spec sheets for a minute. I've been putting this thing through its paces, seeing if it lives up to the buzz. And honestly? Samsung's got something here.
Shutter Lag
First up, the elephant in the room: shutter lag. It's been a hot topic, with folks complaining about blurry images when trying to capture moving subjects. Now, I've had my fair share of experience with the S24 and S23 Ultra, and while I've seen it, it's not been a constant headache for me.
To really test this out, I took the S25 Ultra to a bustling spot. It's one thing to test in a controlled studio, but real life? That's where the rubber meets the road. At 1x zoom, the shutter's snappy. 50MP? A tad slower, as expected. Zooming in to 3x or 5x, still pretty quick. But pushing past 10x? Yeah, things slow down. Which, let's be real, is kind of understandable. You're asking the phone to do some serious processing there.
Shutter Speed
For everyday snaps – cyclists, pedestrians, cars – I'm happy with the performance. I'll keep pushing it with faster subjects, but so far, so good. I'm also planning some low-light and indoor tests which I’ll share here at a later date. Quick transparency note: Samsung actually sent me an early sample this year, which is a first for me. Means you get my reviews a bit sooner. But rest assured, my opinions are still my own. Honesty is non-negotiable around here.
Battery and Display
Battery life? It's early days, but I'm seeing a slight improvement over the S24 Ultra. Just a pinch, mind you. But here's the kicker: while filming the screen, I noticed some flickering bars. Now, that usually points to low or fluctuating refresh rates. I dug into the developer options, but the refresh rate isn't always clear on this phone.
Flicker
Whatever Samsung's doing, it seems to be boosting efficiency. Is it smart optimization or a shortcut? I'm leaning towards the former, but I'll be digging deeper in future use. Now, the display? It's a stunner. Samsung's screens are known for their vibrant colors, and this one's no exception. Usually, I tone down the greens and blues, but this time? Barely any adjustments needed. The colors feel more natural, more mature. Watching content and gaming on this thing is a treat.
Galaxy AI
AI is everywhere, but for me, it's all about context. Apple Intelligence feels reactive, while Galaxy AI seems to anticipate your needs. Case in point: after a brutal run in the UK's January weather, the S25 Ultra's morning brief suggested the perfect time for a run to avoid bad weather. That's the kind of AI I can get behind.
AI Select is smarter, and Writing Assist is even more useful. Anything that saves me time gets a thumbs up from me.
Cameras
Let's talk cameras. Ignoring the cheap shots online – "it's the same," "it's boring" – there's enough here to warrant a closer look. Sure, the hardware could use a refresh, but the software is where the magic happens.
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy, I was hoping for some new camera modes. Honor's multi-frame mode, for instance, freezes action shots in time. That'd be a game-changer for the shutter lag conversation.
But Samsung's interface for adjusting photo styles? It's slick. Intuitive. Dare I say, better than Apple's? The addition of log video is another win. It's like having a blank canvas for video, giving you more creative control.
Creative Control
It’s been an iPhone feature for years, and it's about time Samsung caught up. Whether you're a content creator or just want to make your videos stand out, this is a big deal.
Final Thoughts
Samsung's trade-in offers are worth a shout-out, too. Up to $900 in some regions? That's a steal.
Ultimately, I think Samsung nailed it with the S25 Ultra. It's got that warm and fuzzy feeling I missed with the S24 Ultra. The quality speaks for itself, and I'm excited to see what else this phone can do.
